Man Sues E-Cigarette Battery Retailer After Explosion

At the end of 2016, 31 year old James Heinlein suffered first-, second-, and third-degree burns on his torso and leg after his e-cigarette battery exploded in his shirt pocket. He sued Vapormax Inc., the retailer that sold the battery, and cited that the device was defective and lacked proper warnings.

The basis for Heinlein's case was that he claimed the defendant, Vapormax Inc., failed to establish a warning that keeping the battery next to metal objects can cause it to explode. When the incident occurred, the e-cigarette battery was in Heinlein's shirt pocket next to his keys. Heinlein stated that had he known the dangers of keeping the battery next to metal, he wouldn't have kept it next to his keys. Heinlein was hospitalized for his injuries and underwent debridement and needed to have skin grafted from his left thigh. He still suffers from scarring and itching resulting from his injuries.

In a bench trial at the New York Supreme Court, Heinlein was awarded over $1.2 million, which included payments for past pain suffering, future pain suffering, and medical expenses.

As experienced product liability attorneys, we at Watkins, Lourie, Roll & Chance believe that consumers have a right to feel safe when purchasing and using a product. When someone is injured due to the negligence of a manufacturer or retailer, we fight for our clients to make sure that the responsible party is held liable and pursue the compensation you deserve for your suffering.

If you've been injured by a e-cigarette explosion or any other defective product, contact us today at 404-760-7400 to schedule a complimentary consultation. We fight on your behalf to make sure justice is served and you are compensated fairly. We proudly serve the areas of Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Decatur, and Augusta, Georgia.